Blaze guts Highland Township auto parts store

Fire completely destroyed at NAPA auto parts store on March 6 in Highland, Michigan.
video by John Heider

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A bulldozer, at right, begins to tear down the NAPA auto parts store on Milford Road just south of M-59 on March 6. The fire began in the morning and was under control by 10 a.m. The fire was fought by firefighters from Highland and Milford.(Photo: JOHN HEIDER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Buy Photo

Firefighters from several departments responded to the 5 a.m. call to help battle the blaze. The store is located on the west side of Milford Road about a block south of M-59. Portions of M-59 and Milford Road were closed, slowing the morning commute.

Laura Palmer, owner of Wee Friends Child Care & Learning Center said flames were still “shooting out of the building” when she arrived at work at 6:30 a.m. Wee Friends is on the east side of Milford Road, across from the auto parts building.

“It burned to the ground. It’s so sad,” Palmer said. “It’s a shell.”

Palmer said the blue-colored brick building “had character” and that the store, which sold Napa auto parts, had been part of the Highland business community for many years.

“I’ve been here 30 years and some of those guys have been there (at Highland Auto Supply) as long as I have. I can’t imagine the inventory that is gone. It’s sad to see two iconic businesses in the area lose their business to fire,” Palmer said, referring to the August 2015 blaze that destroyed the Highland Feed & Supply. The feed store was located about a block south of Wee Friends. It rebuilt and reopened late last year.

Highland Auto Supply was closed at the time of the fire and there were no reports of injury.

The Highland Township Fire Department requested an Oakland County Sheriff’s Office fire investigator to assist in finding the cause and origination of the fire. The North Oakland County Hazmat Team also responded to the scene. The fire is under investigation.

The Highland fire chief was not immediately available for comment. Come back to hometownlife.com for updates.

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A bulldozer, at right, begins to tear down the NAPA auto parts store on Milford Road just south of M-59 on March 6. The fire began in the morning and was under control by 10 a.m. The fire was fought by firefighters from Highland and Milford. JOHN HEIDER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER